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Michigan State Football Offers Elijah Golden

Posted on by Vaseline
Michigan State Football Offers Elijah Golden

Michigan State head coach Jonathan Smith’s focus is on the 2025 class. Smith is focused most on the Midwest and the West Coast. One is about maintaining a pipeline, the other is about building one. In between, Smith is also looking to the South. Florida, Georgia and Texas, the big football hot spots.

Smith also knows his bread and butter will be with the high-ceilinged three- and four-stars. Top-tier talent is a sought-after commodity, but the Spartans tend to make do with less. It’s been the recipe for success throughout the Green and White’s history.

That said, as Smith and his talented staff settle into East Lansing and establish their presence on the court (and the field), they’ll be making strides toward bigger goals. The Spartans showed that progression with their recent offer of elite four-star defenseman Elijah Golden. Golden, from the prestigious football factory known as IMG Academy, is 247Sports’ No. 22 overall player in the class of 2026.

Golden is the site’s No. 3 defensive lineman. The 6-foot-3, 265-pound lineman has 19 offers from nearly every top program, and he appears to favor Notre Dame and Michigan. Tom Loy of 247Sports predicts Golden will commit to the Irish.

“I love everything about Notre Dame,” Golden told Loy. “They have a good coaching staff and a good program.”

Golden described his game to 247Sports and what he focuses on during practice.

“People always say I’m very explosive, so I’ve had that speed of the ball ever since I started playing D-end,” he said. “I’ve just always had those first two, good steps of the ball. Pass rush, that’s the main focus. Besides my spin move, counter move. It’s a lot, my swiping, five scissors, cross-chop, all of that.”

Golden is the favorite to commit to North Carolina, according to On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine. Golden told 247Sports about his connection to iconic coach Mack Brown. It could be a game-changer for the Tar Heels.

The Spartans may be late to the party (which seems like an odd statement for a prospect in a class of his own, but for a top player, the sooner the better), but with a talented coaching staff and productivity on the field, the Spartans could make a strong case.

Michael France is Sports Illustrated’s Michigan State recruiting beat writer, covering all things Big Ten recruiting for Spartan Nation. Follow him on Twitter/X@michaelfrancesi for exclusive Spartans recruiting coverage.

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